PEF says it is studying the budget
All-Share Index continues to record modest gains
PEF says it is studying the budget
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 Feb. 2000
The Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) on Thursday said it would react to this year's Budget Statement and Economic Policy after its members had studied it in a couple of days.
Mr Kwasi Abeasi, Director-General, PEF said: "we need a few days to study the budget which was presented to parliament on Wednesday.
"We will surely react to how it affects the private sector and we will make contributions and beef it up if we find that it did not sufficiently satisfy us."
Mr Abeasi told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he has procured about 10 copies of the Budget Statement for Council members who would be meeting to study it.
In a related development, almost all the people GNA spoke to on the budget felt the increase of the VAT rate by 2.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent would seriously affect living standards.
Some said they were of the view that the tax collection system is not effective and that is why the 10 per cent VAT rate could not bring in much revenue.
On corruption, he said the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Corruption proposed in the budget was long overdue and urged the government to give it a free hand to operate.
Mr Baafour said the rate of corruption in the country is high and called for immediate measures to address the situation. "It is not too late; something can be done about it to save the situation."
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Kintampo bank makes strides
Kintampo (Brong Ahafo) 11 Feb. 2000
The Kintampo Rural Bank has endeared itself as one of the most viable in the Brong Ahafo region.
The Bank, incorporated in 1978 and issued with a certificate to commence business in 1980, made a net profit of 36.7 million cedis in 1998.
It has transferred 18.3 million cedis of the profit to reserve Fund, Mr E.A. Ofosu, Manager, told the Ghana News Agency at Kintampo on Wednesday.
He said that within its 20 years of operation, the bank has provided many social amenities in its catchment areas.
They include an office block for Kintampo Senior Secondary School, sports equipment to Kintampo United Football Club and hospital equipment.
On staff development, Mr Ofosu said the bank has assisted about six staffers to further their education at the tertiary level. One of them is pursuing an H.N.D. course in accounts at Tamale Polytechnic.
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All-Share Index continues to record modest gains
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 Feb. 2000
The GSE All-Share Index recorded another modest gain of 0.21 points on Wednesday to close mid-week trading at 742.99 points but other market figures continued to decline.
Recent gains in the All-Share Index, the main market indicator, have been attributed to an increase in offshore investments while lack of education and the absence of a savings habit among Ghanaians have contributed to the decline in market volumes.
Change in the year went up to 0.93 per cent from 0.90 per cent.
Offers closed the day lower at 478,990 compared to 486,210 on Monday as against bids of 58,700 against Monday's 71,200 shares.
Total shares traded dropped from 18,600 to 17,400 shares but market capitalisation rose from 3,215.85 billion cedis to 3,216.19 billion cedis.
In the broader market, there were four price changes - two up and two down.
For the second time since its primary offer, Camelot Ghana limited made a gain. It went up by one cedi to close trading at 421. The initial offer price was 400 cedis after which it gained 20 cedis and remained at that price.
The other gainer was Guinness Ghana Limited, which closed trading up at 972 cedis with a six-cedi appreciation.
The two decliners were Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and SSB Bank (SSB), which finished trading losing one cedi and three cedis to close at 769 cedis and 1,985 cedis respectively.
The following are the last prices of listed equities in cedis:
ABL 470
AGC 18,700
ALW 2,489
BAT 466
CFAO 38
EIC 1,880
FML 935
GBL 1,450
GCB 769 -1
GGL 972 +6
HFC 750
MGL 200
MLC 150
MOGL 14,500
PAF 295
PZ 800
SCB 19,200
SPPC 150
SSB 1,985
UNIL 1,850
UTC-E 125
CMLT 421 +1
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